Youth pastor and Wentzville school district worker charged with child molestation

By Andy Banker
Fox 2
July 8, 2015

http://fox2now.com/2015/07/08/690131/

Cameron Patterson

LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – A 26-year-old Lake St. Louis man working for the Wentzville School District’s Chautauqua Program since November 2012 has been charged with two counts of child molestation.  Cameron Patterson works as a youth pastor at Ballwin Baptist Church and is a supervisor of a before-and-after school program.  The school district says that the victim is not a student at their schools.

Prosecutor Tim Lohmar says that:

“The events that are alleged to have occurred between 2006 and 2011. If proven guilty, Mr. Patterson currently faces a maximum range of punishment of 15 years prison, and lifetime sex offender registration. Though the defendant regularly came into contact with children through his employment, we have no reason to believe that any of those children are victims of Mr. Patterson. Out of respect for the privacy of the victim, we cannot release any additional information about the victim’s identity. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.“

Cameron was arrested at Peine Ridge Elementary School where he was working at summer school.

Patterson allegedly apologized to the victim by email. He says he wants professional counseling and guidance from church officials and his parents.

The Wentzville School District writes in a statement:

“One of our before and after care employees who was working as a summer school paraprofessional has been arrested and is under investigation by local authorities regarding inappropriate contact with a minor. It is our understanding that the allegations do not involve a WSD student. As soon as the District learned of the arrest and allegations, the individual was placed on administrative leave. The safety of our students is always our primary concern and we are committed to providing each of them an excellent education in a safe environment.”

Ballwin Baptist Church pastor, Dave Rubemeyer, told Fox 2 Patterson was hired in April and was now released from his position with the church.

Church members were praying for the victim and all those involved, including Patterson, he said.